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  3. International Org/Dev/Coop

acteur

English translation: agent

03:51 Mar 17, 2006
French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - International Org/Dev/Coop / GNO
French term or phrase: acteur
I know this word is posted in glossaries however I need a good translation for this context. International aid organization report on security. Acteur is used to speak about employees of the ONG whether working in the field or at headquarters. I am really hesitating to use usual translations for this word.
"• Suivre / capitaliser et adapter les outils et les formations développés par d’autres acteurs"
"• Choix d’implantation des nouvelles actions ou de déploiement des actions en cours, (se prononcer sur les.) en concertation avec la Direction des Services et de l’Organisation, au regard des risques auxquels peuvent être exposés les acteurs"
Alexandra Hague
Local time: 20:30
English translation:agent
Explanation:
my reading

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Note added at 5 mins (2006-03-17 03:56:45 GMT)
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I realyy do think "agent" is appropriate here :)

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Note added at 5 mins (2006-03-17 03:57:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"really"
Selected response from:

David Hollywood
Local time: 15:30
Grading comment
Thanks very much. This is the term I used in the translation.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4Participant -or- members
Leveleki
4 +3agent
David Hollywood
4 +3player
Allan Jeffs
4 +3protagonists - works in some contexts but....
CMJ_Trans (X)
2 +3actor
MatthewLaSon
4stakeholders; members
MDI-IDM
4employees
Julie Barber


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
agent


Explanation:
my reading

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 mins (2006-03-17 03:56:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I realyy do think "agent" is appropriate here :)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 mins (2006-03-17 03:57:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"really"

David Hollywood
Local time: 15:30
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks very much. This is the term I used in the translation.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Anne Grimes: sounds like you're "really" sure, so I agree..
14 mins
agree  Antonio Barros
16 mins
neutral  writeaway: how do you arrive at employees being agents?
2 hrs
agree  MatthewLaSon: You are 100% right! "agent" can be anyone who has the authority to "act". That's what I initially thought, but then doubted myself and became very confused.
22 hrs
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36 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +3
actor


Explanation:
Are you sure that "acteurs" is not referring to participants?

In this case, "actors" is the appropriate word.

Example:

Japan is an actor in the International Development (plays a role)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 38 mins (2006-03-17 04:30:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I'm sorry for the typos

Example:

Japan is a principal actor in international development


    Reference: http://www.devstud.org.uk/studygroups/ngo.htm
    Reference: http://www.interaction.org/alpi/themes.html
MatthewLaSon
Local time: 14:30
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: actors or players is the usual translation. From the context provided, I don't see any reason (or way) to use something else.
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, writeway! I really appreciate it.
agree  suezen
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, suezen! I really appreciate it.
neutral  CMJ_Trans (X): well, all the UK English speakers I know go into orbit if ever they see the word "actor" for "acteur" - they (and I) see it as a Euro-barbarism! It may be creeping into the language but there are other, better words, so....
4 hrs
  -> Thank you, xxXCMJ_Trans. I appreciate the comment.
agree  Mpoma: 7 years after the question was posed this Euro-barb'ism has gained more than a foothold. It is not fully established, indeed it has become part of NGO jargon-speak by which people seek to assert spurious authority. It will one day become commonplace.
2775 days
  -> Thank you, Mpoma! I appreciate it. Have a great day.
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
player


Explanation:
"actor", for me, is only used for the cinema!

Allan Jeffs
France
Local time: 20:30
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  sarahl (X): always the playboy, AJ!
10 mins
  -> Thanks Babe. How are thingies?
neutral  writeaway: actors is used too, although player is more usual./never ever? agree players is better but actors is used off-stage/set as well
40 mins
  -> Well, that's interesting Writeaway coz I've never seen it used in a business context. OK, for the movies!
agree  suezen
1 hr
agree  df49f (X)
5 hrs
neutral  Translation Link: in the org development field, player is the right term, but participant /member makes the best sense in this context
12 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
Participant -or- members


Explanation:
You could try either of these two to see how they fit. Presonally, I think "members" which in BE can be used loosely in this context, meaning other people involved in doing the same job for the same organisation.
You could even try "people involved".

Leveleki
France
Local time: 20:30
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: participant
1 hr
agree  cmwilliams (X)
2 hrs
agree  Translation Link: in this context this makes more sense
12 hrs
agree  Rosanna Palermo
13 hrs
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
protagonists - works in some contexts but....


Explanation:
in your particular text it looks as though you may have to translate differently in each of the two sentences - horses for courses....
In the first case it looks as though they are talking about "other organisations/bodies/institutions"
You could even say - use training possibilities/facilities/systems/approaches developed by OTHERS. (or developed elsewhere). You don't really need to translate the word "acteurs" as such.

In the second case, they are chossing the most appropriate approach, taking account of the risk factor, the risks to which the actual players in the field could be exposed - here you coudl, in fact, simply say - those in the field.

OK that way you dodge the column on both occasions but 'acteur' here is really a filler word

The usual translations are: player, participant, stakeholder, protagonist....

But please avoid 'actor' which is reserved in English for the stage, as others above have said before me

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 20:30
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 58

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: like your alternatives-but really have seen actors used, although don't use it myself.
6 mins
  -> I, too, have seen it but it drives purists demented - believe me, I've seen it happen....
agree  French Foodie: Alas, I find actors being is used more and more, and, like you, I cringe every time I see it.
6 mins
  -> it will end up being accepted but it is one of my pet hates
agree  cmwilliams (X)
1 hr
  -> thanks
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
stakeholders; members


Explanation:
This might work in the context - stakeholders in point 1, members in point 2

MDI-IDM
Local time: 19:30
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
employees


Explanation:
quite simply......

Julie Barber
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:30
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28
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